It worked, and Laverne and Shirley, looking at the comic misadventures of its leading ladies, aired from 1976 to 1983 and spent two of its eight seasons as the highest-rated show on television.

Actresses Penny Marshall, left, and Cindy Williams of the television comedy series “Laverne and Shirley” receive flowers at Sam Goody’s record store at 51 Street in New York City on Nov. 20 ...